DeKalb PD shakes up assistant chief assignments

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Each of the four assistant chiefs within the DeKalb County Police Department has been moved to a new position with the same rank.

The orders for the shake-up were given by Chief William O'Brien on April 20, and implemented on Monday.

Assistant Chief D.A. Holmes was reassigned as the uniform division commander. The man who previously held that position, Assistant Chief M.P. Yarbrough, is now assigned as the criminal investigations commander. He replaced Assistant Chief A. Williams, who is now the special operations division commander. Former special operations division commander L.A. Gassner will now work support services.

The police department would not give Channel 2's Sophia Choi a copy of the order, but sources told Choi the order found on the DeKalb County police officer's blog is correct.

"Chief O'Brien made the decision to reassign the assistant chiefs. Supervisors, sergeants and above are commonly reassigned based on the goals and needs of the police department. This is the first rotation under the current organizational chart, however, a similar rotation could be executed in the future at the discretion of the chief of police," a statement from the police department said.

Sources said there is more to the shuffle than the police department says and that changes were prompted after a complaint was filed.

Choi has put in an open records request for more information on the shake-up, as well as numerous interview requests, but the department said no one will discuss the matter.